Lawrence, Jags upset Bills for another win

Trevor Lawrence

While the final stats don't jump off the page, Cartersville High graduate Trevor Lawrence showed plenty of gumption in returning from an ankle injury to help Jacksonville close out a huge upset of Buffalo.

Lawrence tied his season low in passing yards, posted his second-fewest completions and didn't play 100% of the snaps for the first time as a professional. Even still, the rookie's ability to play through the injury, after a brief trip to the locker room, should only solidify Lawrence's standing among his teammates.

Jacksonville — which has already doubled its win total from 2020, knocked off one of the AFC's top teams — and now, the Jaguars will look for their first division win since Week 1 of last year when they travel next week to the Indianapolis Colts, whom they defeated in that game by a 27-20 final score.

PRO FOOTBALL

Trevor Lawrence (Jacksonville Jaguars; Cartersville) — Lawrence completed 15 of 26 passes for 118 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions, in a 9-6 victory over Buffalo Sunday at home. For the first time all season, the former Clemson star didn't take every snap for the Jaguars. Even though he left after having his ankle stepped on during the first half, Lawrence returned and battled through the injury, playing 90% of the snaps. Jacksonville (2-6) hits the road Sunday to face AFC South rival Indianapolis.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Terry Berdin (Reinhardt Jr., Cartersville) — Berdin found the end zone for the second straight week. He carried the ball once for 4 yards and caught an 8-yard scoring pass for a 27-7 lead just before halftime in an eventual 47-7 rout of Union (Kentucky) Saturday at home.

Bryce Burgess (Reinhardt Jr., Cartersville) — Burgess lost 7 yards on his only rushing attempt in the blowout win over Union.

Trey Creamer (Charlotte R-Sr., Cartersville) — Creamer recorded two tackles (one solo) and broke up three passes, as Charlotte rallied back to stun Rice 31-24 in overtime Saturday at home.

Jonathan Cruz (Charlotte Sr., Cartersville) — Cruz helped kickstart the 49ers' comeback with a 32-yard field goal with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter to pull Charlotte within 24-17. His only other FG try got blocked in the first quarter, but Cruz managed to convert all four of his PATs and sent all five of kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks.

Jordan Ferguson (Middle Tennessee State R-Jr., Cartersville) — Ferguson finished with four tackles (one solo) and 0.5 tackles for loss in a 48-21 loss Saturday at Western Kentucky.

Dylan Forman (Shorter R-So., Woodland) — Forman landed on the participation report during Shorter's 38-7 rout of Erskine Saturday at Barron Stadium in Rome. Jonah Gambill (Memphis So., Cartersville) — Gambill appeared in his fifth game this season when Memphis knocked off then-No. 23 SMU, 28-25, Saturday at home.

Zay Jackson (Missouri Baptist Fr., Cass) — Jackson managed one tackle in a 28-22 comeback home win over Judson Saturday in St. Louis.

Manny Jones (Colorado State Grad Student, Woodland) — The starting defensive lineman recorded two tackles, one solo, in a 31-17 road loss Saturday at Wyoming.

Titus Jones (Colorado State R-So., Woodland) — The younger of the Jones brothers saw action but didn't record any stats in the defeat.

Bradley Kirk (Shorter Sr., Cartersville) — Kirk saw time but compiled no stats in the Hawks' home finale.

La'Kwayme Jupiter (N.C. Wesleyan Fr., Cartersville) — Jupiter assisted on a tackle during a 19-10 victory over Southern Virginia Saturday at home.

J.P. Perry (Berry So., Cass) — Perry contributed one tackle in a 45-14 win Saturday at Rhodes College in Memphis.

Jacob Potter (Kennesaw State Sr., Adairsville) — Potter, once again, featured in his hugely impactful long snapper role during KSU's 45-21 triumph against Robert Morris Saturday on the road.

John Scifers (Incarnate Word Grad Student, Woodland) — In a 55-52 shootout win Saturday at home against then-No. 6 ranked Southeastern Louisiana, Scifers racked up nine kickoffs, including three touchbacks and one kick out of bounds for UIW, which rose to 17th with the win.

Courtney Slocum (Mars Hill Fr., Adairsville) — Slocum landed on the participation report during Mars Hill's 20-7 win against Tusculum Saturday at home.

Matthew Surrett (Olivet Nazarene So., Cartersville) — Surrett started at center and helped ONU produce 579 offensive yards in a dominant 41-14 win over Trinity International Saturday at home.

Brandon Wade (West Florida R-So., Cartersville) — Wade saw time on the field but didn't record any stats during a 47-7 rout Saturday at West Alabama.

Bryce Wilkins (Reinhardt So., Cartersville) — Wilkins and his pals up front helped Reinhardt put up 437 offensive yards, as the Eagles scored 47 unanswered points to improve to 8-2 on the year.

CROSS COUNTRY

Bill Archer (Montevallo Fr., Cartersville) — Competing in the NCAA D-II South Region championship, Archer (36:24.13) came in seventh on his team and placed 95th overall out of 134 runners Saturday in St. Leo, Florida. Montevallo came in eighth out of 18 teams.

SOCCER

Russell Shealy (Syracuse R-Jr., Cartersville native) — The starting goalkeeper for 10th-seeded Syracuse, Shealy recorded one save in a 1-0 double-overtime loss last Wednesday at No. 7 seed North Carolina in the ACC Tournament. UNC's lone goal came on a penalty kick. Syracuse finished the season 8-8-2 overall.

SWIMMING

Grayson Breedlove (Lenoir-Rhyne So., Cartersville) — Breedlove competed in six events — five individual and one team — during the Guilford College Invite Saturday at the Greensboro Aquatic Center. Her best showing came in the 100-yard backstroke where she finished 20th.

Mallory Cook (Montevallo Fr., Adairsville) — Cook competed in three events during a duel with Birmingham Southern Saturday at home. She finished fifth in the 100-yard butterfly, seventh in the 200-yard butterfly and eighth in the 100-yard freestyle.

WRESTLING Jaxon Smith (Maryland Fr., Woodland) — Competing in the 197-pound division, Smith placed fourth in the Clarion Open Sunday in Clarion, Pennsylvania. Smith earned 5-2 and 10-1 wins in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively. He fell by a 10-3 margin in the semifinals before a no-contest loss to similarly named teammate Jaron Smith in the third-place match.

-- Report provided by Nicholas Sullivan, The Daily Tribune News